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Liiga Cup holders Inter Turku among teams to book semi-final spots

Ilves, yellow, pictured in action against Djurgarden, had the best record in the group stage
Ilves, yellow, pictured in action against Djurgarden, had the best record in the group stageBildbyran / ddp USA / Profimedia
Finland's Liiga Cup 2024 winners Inter Turku were among the three teams that joined HJK Helsinki in the semi-finals of this season's edition after they topped Group A of the competition.

HJK had already secured a place in the last four with a 4-0 away win at KTP in midweek with returning hero Teemu Pukki scoring twice.

Inter Turku joined them in progressing as the top two teams in group A despite not playing a match at the weekend.

On Sunday, a win for Gnistan of any description away at Haka would have seen the visitors knock Inter out on goal difference. Although Joakim Latonen levelled the scores at 2-2 with a little under 30 minutes remaining, the team from Helsinki could not find a winner.

A late winner for Atomu Tanaka on Saturday meant KTP picked up their only three points of the competition with a 2-1 victory over Mariehamm, who remain without a point with one game to play.

In Group B, Olli Jakonen scored the only goal of an ill-tempered game in Seinajoki, as the visitors VPS got the better of SJK 1-0.

That kept the Vaasa side's ambitions of a top-two place alive, but they needed a result elsewhere to go their way.

They required a slip-up from league champions KuPS at home to AC Oulu, and it looked as though their prayers had been answered with two minutes remaining, as Oulu's Marokhy Ndione equalised in the 88th minute, cancelling out Agon Sadiku's early opener.

But VPS' and Oulu's hopes were dashed in the 94th minute when Arttu Heinonen pounced to send KuPS through to the semi-finals.

First place in Group B was wrapped up by Ilves, who took more than 70 minutes to find a way through a resolute Jaro defence before a Lauri Ala-Myllymaki strike opened the floodgates.

Ilves ran out 4-0 winners to stay unbeaten and finish on 13 points, the most in the 12-team competition.

On Wednesday, Mariehamn will host Haka and Oulu travel to SJK to complete the group stage and battle it out for the minor positions.

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